John's Pizza & Subs honors 25-year employee

By Karen Carr Keefe

Senior Contributing Writer

Joe Gnacinski is a standout employee at John’s Pizza & Subs, 2131 Grand Island Blvd. – and, he has been working there for 25 years. It’s a milestone he and his employers are proud of.

The co-owners of John’s are Kurt Raepple and Gene Mongan – friends since their school days, who have grown their business to four stores.

Raepple has high praise for Gnacinski, who is manager of the Grand Island store.

“You can’t find a better person. He really has been like a member of the family,” Raepple said.

He added, “I just want to congratulate and thank him for his years of service. He has always bought into the fact that it’s super important for us to take care of our employees and try to make things better for them every day – and he’s good at that.”

Mongan said, “I’m pretty proud of him. Amazing – I remember when he was a little teenager. One of our store managers has to be very good at a lot of different things, like complete mastery of all the stations in the restaurant, and then have a really good set of people skills – both in the back of the house with staff and in the front of the house with customers – and organizational skills help a great deal.”

He said Gnacinski has succeeded in those skills.

Gnacinski started at John’s right out of high school.

“It was August of 2000,” he recalled.

Just out of Grand Island High School and 18 years old, he had to learn the ropes.

“I was finding myself. I was actually real shy and real quiet back then – not so much anymore,” Gnacinski said. “Kurt’s son and my brother actually went to school together, so I’ve known Kurt for a long time.”

“A lot of people know Joey,” Raepple said. “A lot of our customers on Grand Island are very aware of who he is and know him by name.”

Gnacinski had one word to describe how it was at first trying to be there for every customer. “Tough!” But he has worked up the ranks and said he learned to roll with the changes. “I feel like after the years, I fit in the niche now.”

Raepple said, “He’s worked a few different stores (within John’s Pizza & Subs) and he’s very, very helpful. He’s just been a great team player. I just love having him around.”

Gnacinski said he has made himself available to work in any of the four stores. “But they needed somebody, so I came back here,” he said of the Island store.

He was promoted to Grand Island store manager about six years ago.

Raepple said that, as manager, Gnacinski “does a little bit of everything. Whatever he’s called upon to do, he takes care of – that’s what we expect of our managers.

“We all have our strengths and weaknesses, and he always tries his best, no matter what he does.”

Mongan added, “We always try to teach Joe and our other managers to find good people and take care of them,” training young kids so they’ll do well. “That’s probably one of the biggest challenges, to bring these young people in and teach them good work ethics so that they have something to leave here on a positive note. It might help their career.”

He said that, for many of the young people, it’s their first job. “We’re really trying to help them become better suited for the workforce, down the road.”

Gnacinski said he’s been able to mentor the younger workers, some of whom were customers, then came in seeking a job.

“It’s nice to see people grow, and they’re not always going to be here, but it’s nice to keep some” as employees. “I hope the best for them all,” he said.

The favorite parts of the job for Gnacinski?

“Dealing with customers – you get your regular customers. It’s nice to joke with them and get to know them, say ‘Hi’ to everybody,” he said.

There are special days, too.

“The Super Bowls are fun – when it’s super busy like that,” Gnacinski said.

He also enjoys the Fourth of July, when Islanders come back to their hometown, watch the parade and stop in to John’s Pizza & Subs: “I like when it’s busy and there’s something to do.”

Mongan chimed in that “his bosses” are also a favorite part of the job for Gnacinski.

Gnacinski agreed: “They’re great bosses!”

As to the most challenging parts of the job, Gnacinski said he is still learning. The job has many facets besides customer service, including scheduling, ordering and cooking.

When asked what his own favorite meal is, Gnacinski replied, “I’m a plain guy – turkey club!”

He noted hoagies and chicken finger subs are what their restaurant is known for.

Raepple and Mongan also have restaurants at 1436 Niagara Falls Blvd., Tonawanda – their original store; 680 Campbell Blvd., Getzville; and 4241 Delaware Ave., Tonawanda. They employ about 100 people.

Raepple and Mongan said there’s a tradition with their restaurants of staff working for many years with them.

“A lot has to do with trying to make it a good atmosphere to work in, and I think a lot of people buy into the fact that we’re really trying to help them as much as we’re asking for their help,” Raepple said. “A lot of people leave and come back. We’ve had a ton of employees return because it’s been a good place for them to work.”

He said a lot of them, even if they’re not coming back to work, say it’s the best job they ever had.

“I would say hundreds return,” Mongan added. “We just try to take care of the ones we know do a good job and care about our business. I think it makes a difference.”

Raepple said they probably have more than a dozen employees who have worked at their restaurants for more than 10 years.

There’s another employee the owners want to highlight as also working at John’s for more than 25 years. He’s Jason Raepple, the general manager for the Delaware and Grand Island stores, who also is Kurt’s nephew.

“He’s been a great help to our success,” Kurt Raepple said. “Gene and I just would like to thank him for his hard work.”

Kurt said it’s quite a task for Jason to oversee two stores and raise a family, as well. He lives on Grand Island with his wife and five children.

“He’s done a really nice job and I’m really proud of him,” Kurt said.

Mongan said, “He’s really a valuable resource to Kurt and I.”